DENVER – Late last night, the Durango City Council approved a “sit-lie” ordinance that prohibits people from sitting or lying down on downtown sidewalks, curbs and other public areas.
ACLU of Colorado Executive Director Nathan Woodliff-Stanley issued the following statement:

“As cost of living has spiked across the state and affordable housing has dwindled, we have seen all sorts of attempts to criminalize homelessness and poverty. So-called “sit-lie” ordinances are among the most absurd and indefensible.
“Sitting is not a crime. It is not a threat to public safety. Of course, the Durango ordinance has nothing to do with public safety. It is intended to give police another tool to harass and remove people from downtown who appear to be homeless.
“People do not lose their right to exist in a public place when they lose a home.
“We firmly believe that laws that directly criminalize existence or indirectly impede the free speech right to peacefully ask for charity in public spaces deserve to be challenged both in the courts and in the court of public opinion.”

https://soundcloud.com/thepurplestatereport/immigrant-rights-are-civil-r...

The Department of Justice has suspended funding for the Legal Orientation Program which provides essential legal information to people in immigration detention. Staff Attorney Arash Jahanian sits down with Mekela Goehring, executive director of the Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network, to discuss the consequences of ending the program and the most important things immigration detainees and their families should know. Also, an update from Jen Samano.

For more info on RMIAN go to www.rmian.org.

The hotline for detained individuals and family members is: (303) 866-9308

CALL TO ACTION:

Urge Colorado lawmakers to increase transparency and accountability in law enforcement. To contact the House Judiciary Committee go to http://bit.ly/HB1404IAB

The Purple State Report is brought to you by the ACLU of Colorado. Our show was produced by Vanessa Michel, John Krieger, Alejandra Garza and Arash Jahanian with original theme music by Pablo Novelas. Additional music by Phantogram. If you have feedback or suggestions for future episodes email us at [email protected].

https://soundcloud.com/thepurplestatereport/30-people-have-to-go


Colorado’s largest newspaper, The Denver Post, recently announced it would cut a third of its newsroom staff. John sits down with Noelle Phillips a Denver Post reporter and Vice Chair of the Denver Newspaper Guild to talk about the recent layoffs, the role of journalism in holding our public officials accountable, Sinclair-owned TV stations, and “fake news.” Also, an update from Stephen on the Live and Let Live Bill.

Call to Action: If your Colorado driver’s license has been canceled because of court debt in a traffic case you couldn’t afford, contact Becca Curry at [email protected] or 720-402-3115.  

Call to Action: Contact the Joint Budget Committee and urge them to focus on the education and well-being of students and not an increased police presence.

Sen. Dominick Moreno: [email protected] 303.866.4857 Sen. Kevin Lundberg: [email protected] 303.866.4853 Sen. Ken Lambert: [email protected] 303.866.4835 Rep. Millie Hamner: [email protected] 303.866.2952 Rep. Bob Rankin: [email protected] 303.866.2949 Rep. Dave Young: [email protected] 303.866.2929

Contact the corporate owners of The Denver Post: Alton Global Capital: 212-418-6865 Digital First Media CEO Guy Gilmore: 651-717-7377

The Purple State Report is brought to you by the ACLU of Colorado. Our show was produced by Vanessa Michel, John Krieger and Alejandra Garza with original theme music by Pablo Novelas. Additional music by Unknown Mortal Orchestra. If you have feedback or suggestions for future episodes email us at [email protected].